NEWS

Salads are a perfect starter to any meal or are great by themselves. Not all salads are the same, however. Crispy iceberg lettuce is delicious, although it is not the most nutritious choice. So if you’re going to eat salads, remember this rule—the darker the color of your salad greens, the healthier.

Iceberg lettuce has a high water content, and does contain some vitamins, minerals, and fiber. So for many, it can be filling while being low in calories, making it a nice choice for a salad base. However, when it comes to eating for nutrition, especially during the fertility process, it doesn’t offer as much of the substantial vitamins and nutrients that other greens do.

Some great choices for salad greens are spinach, romaine, arugula, green leaf lettuce, Bibb lettuce, watercress, and kale. The dark leafy greens have a higher content of Vitamin A which is excellent for follicular development and cervical fluid. The darker varieties also rank higher in Vitamin K which is helpful for cell growth. Spinach and Romaine lettuce are high in Folic Acid which is beneficial for conception and overall general health in women, and improved sperm production in men. The higher fiber content in these darker salad greens help to remove toxins from the body. Kale and Bibb lettuce are good sources of calcium. Leafy greens contain a healthy dose of Vitamin C which helps to increase the hormone progesterone which regulates menstrual cycles and improves the uterus lining for implantation.

Even if you find it difficult to switch to any of these darker leaf greens as an entire base, try adding them to your diet by mixing them with a little iceberg lettuce. Having them in your fridge also makes it easy to add a few pieces on a sandwich, or roll up with slice of turkey as a snack!